Quenching sprayer



June 2, 1964 F. SIGL 3,135,275

QUENCHING SPRAYER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 9, 1962 United States Patent 3,135,275 QUENCHING SPRAYER Friedrich Sigl, Remscheid, Germany, assignor to Deutsche Edelstahlwerke Aktiengesellschaft, Krefeld, and Allgemeine Elektricitats-Gesellschaft, Berlin-Grime- Wald, Germany Filed Nov. 9, 1962, Ser. No. 236,583 Claims priority, application Germany June 26, 1962 4 Claims. (Cl. 134-199) a This invention relates to a quenching sprayer of the kind required to quench the surface of workpieces which are to be surface-hardened. Such sprayers are generally used for cylindrical workpieces and are therefore of ring shape. Alternatively, the workpiece may be rectangular or have some other polygonal shape, and then the quenching spray must be adapted to this workpiece shape and is therefore of rectangular or other polygonal shape instead of cylindrical or ring shape.

The surfaces are heated to the required hardening temperature either by gas flames or electrically with the power supplied either by induction or conduction. In every case, quenching must be carried out to the full effect immediately after the surface has reached the hardening temperature, and in particular care must be taken to ensure that the quenching liquid is distributed uniformly over the surface. To this end it is known to use annular or cylindrical quenching sprayers for cylindrical workpieces. These sprayers comprise a perforated cylindrical inner wall from which the quenching liquid impinges on the surface of the workpiece. To ensure uniform distribution of the liquid it is also known to provide preliminary chambers before the perforated inner wall, said preliminary chambers also comprising cylindrical perforated elements, the predistributor openings optionally having a different cross-section to give a uniform pressure distribution over the periphery.

It will be seen that if the diameters of the workpieces vary the inside diameter of such a quenching sprayer must be altered to adapt it to the outside diameter of the workpieces. This means complicated dismantling of a quenching sprayer previously in use and its replacement by another sprayer.

The object of the invention is to provide a spraying system which can be used for the most diverse sizes of workpieces without any total removal being necessary. To this end, inserts are provided with graduated outside and inside diameters such that the required inside diameter of the sprayer can be obtained by the insertion of one or more such inserts. These inserts may comprise two spaced annular plates between which is inserted a perforated cylinder which concentrically surrounds the workpiece. In this way it is possible to use a frame construction rigidly installed in the heating system, it being possible to dispense, in particular, with flexible supply hoses. The maximum inside diameter insert or outer assembly providing the maximum inside diameter spray may be a rigid component of the frame structure and a number of inserts required to give a desired inside diameter of the spray inserted in said insert or outer assembly. In this way, with varying workpiece dimensions, the outlet apertures for the liquid can be readily brought into the correct position in relation to the workpiece surface.

To enable the inserts to be rapidly and easily inserted and removed, the annular plates of the inserts are stepshaped on the outer and inner peripheries. The diameters of the steps of the top and bottom rings are offset in relation to one another to give the required sealing surfaces. In conjunction with quick-action fasteners it is thus possible to adapt the sprayer to the workpiece diameter at any time quickly 'and easily by inserting or re- 3,135,275 Patented June 2, 1964 moving inserts, a plurality of inserts being inserted or removed simultaneously if required.

The quick-action fastener is preferably provided in the form of clamping levers with straps, which respectively press on the steps of the next insert.

A preferred embodiment of an annular quenching sprayer embodying the principle of the invention is illustrated in vertical section (FIG. 1) and plan view (FIG. 2) in the accompanying drawing.

A preliminary chamber 4 in casing 3 communicates through a plurality of connections-2 with the duct 1 through which the liquid is supplied. In many cases the duct 1 may be dispensed with. The quenching medium supply means may lead directly into the preliminary chamber 4. The spray for the largest workpiece diameter is rigidly fitted to the casing 3 and consists of the limiting annular plates 8 and 9, the spacer bolts 10, the cylin-' drical pre-distributors 6 and 7 and the spray cylinder 5. The cylindrical wall 5 may have the finest perforation.

The perforation may be coarser at the cylindrical wall 6 and coarsest at 7. The sieve-like walls 5, 6 and 7 in the example selected are heldbetween rings 8 and 9 which are in turn bolted together by a plurality of bolts 10. As shown at 12, the rings 8 and 9 are bolted to the casing 3. The chambers formed between the individual sieve plates ensure that the liquid 'can flow uniformly from the per forations of the wall 5.

The-inside diameter of the quenching spray in the region of the cylindrical sieve wall 5 is so selected that smaller number of inserts may be used. Such an insert.

consists of a bottom ring 13 and a top ring 14, the two rings being spaced by a necked-down bolt 15.

The perforated cylinder 17 is inserted between the rings 13 and 14. The rings 13 and 14 of these inserts are stepped at the inner and outer peripheries, as shown at 18/19 and 20/ 21. The stepping in the case of the bottom ring 13 is of smaller diameter than the stepping of the top ring 14.

This type of construction is followed in the rings of the other inserts and the rings 8 and 9 of the base element. The inserts may consequently be inserted in the direction of the arrow 22. To facilitate removal, the edge 23 of the bottom ring 13 is slightly chamfered. To enable the inserts to be readily inserted and removed, quick-action fastenings are provided at the inner margins of the quenching sprayer and the inserts, in the form of clamping levers 24 which press straps 25 down against springs 26. The straps 25 are constructed as U-shaped stirrups and the arrangement is such that in each case one limb 27 presses on the stepping of the next insert ring while the other limb 28 bears on the ring on which the clamping lever 24 is provided. The steps of the individual rings of the inserts are pressed rigidly against one another by these clamping devices and this is sufficient for sealing, since any leakage is insignificant. If such leakage must be more certainly avoided sealing rings may be inserted at these zones. To ensure a central position of the inserts, the sealing surface may be of prismatic construction or provided with locating means as shown at 29. This eliminates the need for fits at the points 30, since these would make replacement difiicult. The same applies to all the inserts.

The drawing shows inserts of different diameters. It is thus possible to vary the inside dimensions. As will be apparent from the drawing, the inserts may be removed and inserted singly or in a plurality according to practical requirements.

It is particularly advantageous that a very uniform quenching action is obtained as a result of the multiple distribution of the quenching medium due to the large number of sieve plates. Although there is a certain pressure drop as a result of the various sieve plates through which the liquid has to flow it is so small as to be practically insignificant.

Since the peripheral line of the last sprayer decreases as one or more inserts are used, but the quenching medium pump delivery has to be designed for the maximum peripheral line, there are no disadvantages in respect of the operating equipment when a quenching sprayer according to the invention is used.

A quenching sprayer according to the invention is particularly advantageous for hardening gear wheels of the kind required for the construction of lorries, tractors, electn'c'locomotives, large gears and the like. It may also be used for hardening road wheels, crane wheels, wheel tyres and the like.

In'the example selected a cylindrical or annular quenching spray has been shown with the corresponding inserts. The invention is not limited to this. On the contrary, a rectangular or polygonal shape may be used if the workpieces are of such shape.

What I claim is:

1. An annular quenching sprayer for surrounding workpieces to be quenched comprising interfitting assemblies of different diameter for insertion one into another for varying the effective diameter of the sprayer in accordance with the peripheral extent of the workpiece to be treated, each said assembly comprising spaced annular plates and a perforated sprayer tube positioned therebetween, the said annular plates of the said assemblies being formed at their peripheral edges to co-operate to locate the assemblies in co-axial relationship.

2. A quenching sprayer according to claim 1, including atleast a first said assembly whereof the said annular plates are stepped at the outer and inner peripheral edges; at least one assembly whereof the said plates are of greater diameter than those of said first assembly and are stepped at least at their inner peripheral edges; and at least one assembly whereof the said plates are of smaller diameter than those of said first assembly and are stepped at least in their outer peripheral edges; the assemblies interfitting in co-axial relation by means of said stepped peripheral edges and the diameters of the co-operating stepped peripheral edges being greater in the top plates than in the bottom plates.

3. A quenching sprayer according to claim 1, comprising quick-action fastenings co-operating between a said plate of one said assembly and a said plate of an adjacent said assembly for securing the said assemblies in co-axial interfitting relationship.

4. A quenching sprayer for surrounding workpieces to be quenched, comprisingan outer sprayer assembly and interfitting detachable sprayer insert assemblies for varying the effective size of the sprayer in accordance with the peripheral extent of the workpiece to be treated, said outer sprayer assembly comprising annular plates and a cylindrical perforated sprayer wall and at least the inner peripheral edges of said plates'being stepped, said insert assemblies each comprising upper and lower annular plates and a cylindrical sprayer wall therebetween, the plates of said insert assemblies being each stepped at the outer and inner peripheraledges, the said assemblies interfitting in co-axial concentric relationship by virtue of the co-operation between the said stepped peripheral edges of one assembly with those of another, and quick acting fastenings carried by the said assemblies and comprising straps and clamping levers for causing said straps to press on the stepped margin of the next assembly.

References Cited the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. AN ANNULAR QUENCHING SPRAYER FOR SURROUNDING WORKPIECES TO BE QUENCHED COMPRISING INTERFITTING ASSEMBLIES OF DIFFERENT DIAMETER FOR INSERTION ONE INTO ANOTHER FOR VARYING THE EFFECTIVE DIAMETER OF THE SPRAYER IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PERIPHERAL EXTENT OF THE WORKPIECE TO BE TREATED, EACH SAID ASSEMBLY COMPRISING SPACED ANNULAR PLATES AND A PERFORATED SPRAYER TUBE POSITIONED THEREBETWEEN, THE SAID ANNULAR PLATES OF THE SAID ASSEMBLIES BEING FORMED AT THEIR PERIPHERAL EDGES TO CO-OPERATE TO LOCATE THE ASSEMBLIES IN CO-AXIAL RELATIONSHIP. 